MUSKEGON, MI --
Muskegon High School is phasing out its International Baccalaureate
Programme in favor of more Advanced Placement courses.

IB will be available to this year's high school seniors, but
after that it will end, said Muskegon Public Schools Superintendent Jon Felske.
Instead of the rigorous international IB curriculum, the school is adding 10
additional Advanced Placement courses this year, Felske said.

"Two main things are driving this," he said. "One, we want
more students to participate, and we want more students to achieve college
credits."

Muskegon High juniors and seniors had been able to take
individual IB classes, or they could pursue an IB diploma. To receive the internationally-recognized
diploma, students had to complete the full complement of IB classes as well as
score high enough on tests and required essays.

Last year, just four seniors completed the full IB course
load, but none of them scored high enough for the diploma, Felske said. Another
30 seniors took IB classes, of which there are eight at Muskegon High, he said.

Six incoming seniors are pursuing IB diplomas, he said.
Seniors still will be able to take individual IB classes this year, and then
the program will be ended, Felske said.

The high school this year will offer 12 Advanced Placement
courses, a large increase from the two that were offered last year. Like the IB
program, students who complete AP classes can receive college credit if they
score high enough on AP exams.

The school's goal is to "significantly" increase the number
of students receiving college credit through AP classes, Felske said. He said
the school plans to add more AP classes in coming years.

"We believe that for our district, this is the direction we
need to move in," Felske said.

Eliminating IB also will save the district money. Felske
said the district budgeted $50,000 for the program, which required it have its
own coordinator. Staff also had to travel for IB certification courses, he
said.

IB was introduced at Muskegon High in 2009 under former Superintendent
Colin Armstrong. The school had to undergo a rigorous application process to
become an IB school, and at the time, school officials expected 60 students
would enroll in the diploma program.